Greece, Cyprus, Israel deepen military ties amid Turkey tensions
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Greece, Cyprus, and Israel approved a 2026 military cooperation roadmap at a December 2025 meeting in Nicosia. The three states are aligning to counter Turkey's growing influence in the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkey has responded by forming a defense alliance with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
Key Facts
- Greece, Cyprus, and Israel approved a one-year military cooperation roadmap for 2026 at a meeting in Nicosia in December 2025.
- Turkey formed a defense alliance with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in response to the trilateral cooperation.
- Greece is reportedly deploying Israel's PULS rocket systems near the Turkish coast.
- The Aegean Sea contains more than 2,200 islands, most of which belong to Greece, complicating maritime boundary disputes with Turkey.
Trilateral Military Cooperation
Greece, Cyprus, and Israel approved a one-year military cooperation roadmap for 2026 at a meeting in Nicosia in December 2025. The three states share unresolved disputes with Turkey over security, territorial claims, and sea lanes. For Cyprus, the primary concern is independence and the island's territorial integrity. Israel's strategic depth relative to Turkey is limited, prompting it to seek regional partners such as Greece and Cyprus.
Turkey's Response
Turkey formed a defense alliance with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in response to the trilateral cooperation. Greece is reportedly deploying Israel's PULS rocket systems near the Turkish coast. The Aegean Sea contains more than 2,200 islands, most of which belong to Greece, complicating maritime boundary disputes with Turkey. Under international maritime law, coastal states may extend territorial waters up to 12 nautical miles, approximately 22 kilometers.
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Greece, Cyprus, Israel deepen military ties amid Turkey tensions
